Metaneira

Family: Eleusis · Role: mother of Demophoon · First appears: Homeric Hymn II · To Demeter · Part 2

At the palace, Metaneira, mother of Demophoon, asked Demeter to nurse him, and Demeter agreed. She secretly tried to make the boy immortal, but Metaneira watched by night and discovered her. Demeter told Metaneira that the interruption had cost Demophoon immortality, though lasting honour would remain his.

Demeter then identified herself and commanded the people to build her a temple and altar, promising to teach them her rites. Earlier, Metaneira had sent Callidice to invite Demeter to their home rather than search elsewhere.

Relationship record

Life events

• Metaneira asked Demeter to nurse Demophoon, and Demeter agreed.(Homeric Hymn II · To Demeter · Part 2 · 📍 palace)
  • With: Demeter Demophoon
  • “Gladly will I take the boy to my breast, as you bid me, and will nurse him.”
• Demeter secretly tried to make Demophoon immortal, but Metaneira discovered her at night.(Homeric Hymn II · To Demeter · Part 2 · 📍 palace)
  • With: Demeter Demophoon
  • “And she would have made him deathless and unageing, had not well-girded Metaneira in her heedlessness kept watch by night from her sweet-smelling chamber and spied.”
• Demeter revealed that Metaneira's interruption had cost Demophoon immortality, though he would retain lasting honour.(Homeric Hymn II · To Demeter · Part 2 · 📍 palace)
  • With: Demeter Demophoon
  • “I would have made your dear son deathless and unageing all his days and would have bestowed on him everlasting honour, but now he can in no way escape death and the fates. Yet shall unfailing honour always rest upon him”
• Demeter identified herself and commanded the people to build her a temple and altar, promising to teach her rites.(Homeric Hymn II · To Demeter · Part 2)
  • With: Demeter
  • “Lo! I am that Demeter who has share of honour and is the greatest help and cause of joy to the undying gods and mortal men. But now, let all the people build me a great temple and an altar below it”

Homeric Hymn II · To Demeter · Part 2

• child: Callidice “that she may bid you rather come to our home than search after the houses of others.”
• child: Demophoon “So the goddess nursed in the palace Demophoon, wise Celeus’ goodly son whom well-girded Metaneira bare.”

Also listed in Other Figures — Minor Figures

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Extracted from the original text of Hesiod and Homerica. Made with Rho MD.